Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-12-09
Senator Wilson and the Surplus.

United States Senator Wilson was at
Barnum's last night, on his way TO Wash
ington On being asked his views upon
the surplus in the treasury, and the best
mode of dealing with it, he said; "ln my
opinion, If the question were submitted to
the people of the country, an immense ma
jority of them would vote for prompt re-
duction, or, in other words, for an abate-
ment Of taxes. Every intelligent man must
see that the surest method OF debauchng
the public service, and to large extent the
people, is to pile up vast sums in the treasury,
TO be scrambled over by lobbies often repre-
senting disgracelul jobs As 10 the best mode
of reducing revenue, do not see how there
can be any reasonable difference Of opinion,
apart from special interests, which will not
be content with fair field for competition,
but demand the fostering aid of enfiching
duties, whereby one fourth of our States have
been rendered well-nigh paramount over
three-fourths, at least so far as the powerful
influences OF accumulated and concentrated
capital can make them so.
81 believe that taxes on raw materials are
wrong in principle and injurious in effect,
largely increasing the cost TO the people OF
prime necessaries of life, and often seriously
hampering the industries to which they are
essential. In addition to the internal duties
on tobacco, which almost all will agree to
remove, | am for looping off at least $780,
100000 by the removal of duties upon raw
materials and such articles as most largely
enter into consumption by the masses Of the
people. And even from these articles
would select such as in addition to the rev
enue they pay into the treasury, pay treble
tax TO the manufacturers. 1t is folly TO say
that cur manufacturing interests can't stand
this In 1851, when the Morrill, tariff bill
was passed, all was given that these people
claimed as necessary to make distinctively
protective system OF duties on the plea of
war necessity, and in order to raise more
revenue these duties were largely increased.
On many articles they were also increased to
offset corresponding internal taxes imposed
upon them. These internal taxes have been
taken off, but the war duties predicated upon
them still remain.
ain 1872 Republican Congress took off
ten per cent from tariff duties, thus conced
ing they were not needed for projections
sake, and in 1874 restored it an the ground
that by such decrease our revenues were
| falling dangerously short. And now these
same men contend that reduction OF duties
| will only serve to Increase revenue. In 1889
a Republican President, Secretary of the
Treasury aud Congress promised 20 per
cent. reduction, but evaded their promises
The promise was concession that 20 per
cont more of taxes rested upon the people
than even high protection required. Even
if reduction of duties should tend TO in
crease the revenue, contrary to the uniform
claim Of the high protectionists for % years,
there ARE many articles which could be
placed on the free list without detriment ~
our industries as counterpiece. The up
shot OF the whole matter is that considerably
more than S50,000,000 are now wrung from
the people by this tariff beyond which the
government needs. If its duties are not re
duced II is plain proof that this combina
ton of special interests is stronger than the
people, and that the concentrated capital OF
the country is king alto. Sun Of Monday.